Founded in Brussels in 1873 and currently headquartered in London, ILA is the preeminent international non-governmental organization involved in developing and restating international law. It has 60 branches and over 4000 members.

Established in 1922, the American Branch, one of the largest in the association, nominates members to participate in ILA committees. Committee members have opportunities to "help prepare draft treaties or studies in collaboration with leading international lawyers and international law academics from around the world."

In addition, the American Branch features 17 internal committees, which allow participating members to combine service, academic and advocacy work in their effort to promote international law developments at the national level. Specialized areas covered include arms control and disarmament, international arbitration, international commercial law, the International Criminal Court, international environmental law, international human rights, law of the sea and space law.

"In these times of great uncertainty and rapid changes, the development of international law cannot be more important. It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the co-director of studies of such a historical and influential organization. I look forward to working closely with the president, the president-elect and the board of the American Branch to promote the study and development of international law," said Yu, a leading U.S. expert in intellectual property, international trade, and international and comparative law.

Since October 2006, Yu has served on the board (and previously the executive committee) of the American Branch. He currently chairs the branch's Committee on International Intellectual Property. He is also one of the four U.S. delegates to the ILA Committee on Intellectual Property and Private International Law, along with Professors Rochelle Dreyfuss (NYU), Jane Ginsburg (Columbia) and Marketa Trimble (UNLV).